Oil to be processed enters the unit, passing through a
100-mesh strainer (1) and then into an inlet pump (2). The
pump transfers the oil into a low-watt density heater (3)
that brings the oil temperature up to approximately 140°F.
The oil is then transferred through an ultrafine 3-µm
high-surface-area filter with a Beta 3 rating of 100 (4)
that removes an retains particulate contamination. As the
filter becomes contaminate-loaded, a differential-pressure-switch
gauge (5) actuates a warning light that indicates the filter
element needs to be changed and shuts the unit off.
Following filtration, the oil flows through a level-controlled valve (6) into
the liquid-gas separation column (7) where a vacuum of 27.5 in. Hg is maintained.
Now containing only liquid and gaseous contaminants, the oil flows over a specially
designed proprietary packing material that disperses it into a thin film with
an extremely high surface area. There, volatile liquid contaminants such as
water are boiled off, while noncondensable gaseous contaminants such as air
are concurrently removed.
The gases and vapors removed from the oil are then drawn out of the top of
the column, flowing into a condenser (8) where the water and low boil-point
contaminants are condensed back into a liquid state. They are discharged into
a condensate collection chamber (9), which has an automatic drain switch (10).
Noncondensable gases are discharged through the vacuum pump (11), while water
and other condensed liquids are automatically drained.
Purified oil collects at the bottom of the column and exits from the systems
discharge pump (12).